Carburetor choke control



May 12, 1942. B. c. PHILLIPS CARBURETOR CHOKE CONTROL Filed Oct. 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR May 12, 1942. B. c. PHILLIPS CARBURETOR CHOKE CONTROL Filed Oct. 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented May 12, 1942 i l UNITED STATES PNTEINT OFFICE H .azsasqo I CARBURETOR CHOKE-CONTROL Bernard 0. Phillips, Toledo,? Ohio, assignor" to The Tillotson Manufacturing iOompany, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationOctober 10, 1941, seria o. 414,393.. Claims. (01. 123-1 19) 2 This invention relates to carburetors and more particularly to carburetor choke valve controls adapted for use in connection with internal combustion engines.

Internal combustion engines ordinarily require an abnormally rich mixture for starting'purposes. This is particularly true when the temperature is low. As the engine warms up the richness of the mixture should decrease until at normal operating temperatures the normal or best mixture is supplied to' the engine. Originally an attempt was made to accomplish this result by the use of manually operated choke valves. At the present time many automatic devices have been used to operate the choke valve, which eliminates the; manual control; "The present automatic choke control devices are" thermostatically controlled. The thermostatic element is placed in a casing or housing inthe proximity of the carburetor. Therefore a means for transmitting a heated fluid to the thermostatic element'must beprovided so that the temperature reaching the element is very nearly the same for corresponding engine temperatures regardless of thetemperature of the surrounding air. In order to retain the heat in the casing where the thermostat is located an insulating medium is necessary." Cork has beenwidely used as an insulating medium for the thermostatic unit. As the cork ages it cracks, warps and breaks, thus destroying the fip V p 7 spring housing cover'gasket. I p Fig. 10 is a side elevation view of the insulating insulating value and also the pieces of cork clog the fluid passageways and interfere with the operation of the thermostatic member.

In my improved choke control the fluid used to operate the thermostatic unit is air. Air,

heated by the exhaust gas, is drawn into the" chamber housing the thermostatic unit and is passed through the thermostatic spring. "The heated air 'then leaves the above mentioned chamber and passes around said chamber. Thus any heat lost from the air does' not occur until the heated air leaves the chamber in whichthe thermostatic element is located. 'The air then passes into the intake manifold. Since only 'a limited amount of air can be circulated and ex-. hausted into the intake manifold it is very essential'that as little heat as possible be lost.

My invention further does'not allow the choke valve to close completely. If'the engine backfires the pressure on the choke valve is such that in many instances the valvesticks or is locked in closed position. My invention provides a stop which prevents the choke valve from entirely closing at any time.

' My invention has for'fits principal object'the" I thermostatic unit.

1 Fig. 5 is a front elevation provision of insulation for the thermostatic velement; used to operate the choke of a carburetor,

'by the utilizationof the fluid that transmits the heat'to the thermpstatic element.

My invention will be best understood from the detailed description and claims which follow, reference being had-to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown by way of example in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partially in section of a carburetor provided with a thermostatically controlled chokevmechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partially in section of a carburetor provided with a thermostatically controlled choke mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the cup or thermostatic spring housing.

of the cup or thermostatic "spring housing. Y

Fig. 6 is'a side elevation of thethermostatic spring'housing cover.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the thermostatic spring housing cover. v v v Fig. 8 is a side elevation of'the thermostatic s ring housing cover gasket.

9 isla front elevation of the thermostatic Fig. 1 I have acarbure'tor [0 having an unbalanced choke valve H and a throttle l2.

Carburet'or'lll is; shown-as a plain tube downdraft carburetor, this type being shown by way of example only as the invention may be applied to any preferred type of carburetor. The'throttle valve l2 ismount'ed on a shaft l3 which is connected to'an operating lever l4. Theunbalanc'ed 'choke" valve I II in the air intake I5'is mounted is connected to an operintheinsulatingbushing 2| and is provided with p a lever 23 which is fastened by means of th'enut 24. The lever-23 is operatively connected to the "lever- I by means of the rod 25'. A thermo-responsive element 26 is fixed to the shaft 22 and wound therearound and is disposed so as to be heated by a fluid which in turn obtains its heat from the exhaust. One end of the thermo-re- 'sponsive element 26 is fixed in position by means which screws into the exhaust manifold 28 as shown in Fig. 2. The housing 29 is providedwith fins or ribs 39 for absorbing more heat from the exhaust gas. An insulated tube member 3I t'ers the mixture passageway 44.

After the air has passed through the central portion of the thermostatic spring 26 it is deflected radially outwardly by the bottom of the cup member 38 and then passes through the outer portion of the thermostatic spring 26. The air is then drawn out of the chamber 32 through the passageway 45 into the outer chamber where it flows around the outer surface of the cup member 38 into the substantially centrally located exit passage 4|, The airis then drawn through the tube 42 into the passageway 43 and then en- Arrows are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to more clearly define the flow of air from the intake ports 33 to the exit port 43.

The purpose of the above described air passageway is to transmit heat from the exhaust gas in the manifold 28' to the thermostatic spring 26 extends into the housing 29 and communicates The thermostat casing I8" is provided 'with a cover 34 which is fastened by means of the screws 35. A gasket 36 is interposed between the cover 34 and the thermostat casing I8 in order to in sure a good seal. The cap 34 is provided with a threaded hollow boss 3'Iadapted to be connected to the insulated tube 3|.

The thermostat 26 is located within a cup member 38 which is located in the thermostat casing I 8 and is spaced therefrom. The cup member 38 provides an inner or thermostat chamber 32 in which the thermostat 26 is located and an outer or insulating chamber 39. Notches 45 in the cup member 38 provide communication between the inner chamber 32 and the outer chamber39. The thermostat casing I 8 has lugs 40 to keep the cup 38 properly spaced from the inner periphery of the thermostat casing. The chamber 39 has a'n outlet passage 4| near its center which communicates through the tube member 42 and passageway 43 which leads into the mixture passageway 44 on the engine side of the throttle valve. l2

When the engine is started the choke valve is usually in a substantially closed position. Since the choke valve l I is an unbalanced valve any time the engine backfires the valve II will tend to turn due to greater pressure on one side of the valve than on the other side. This often causes the choke valve to jam which in turn renders the engine inoperative. In applicants novel device the air intake, I5 of the carburetor is provided with a stop 46 which prevents the choke valve II from closing completely thereby preventing choke valve from looking in a closed osition.

When the engine is started it is usually comparatively cold and the thermostatic element 26 is also cold. Under these conditions the cold A into the intake passageway 44 without disturbing Fthe proper fuel to air ratio for proper combustion the amount of heat that can be transmitted from radiation and conduction of heat.

thermostatic element holds the choke valve II the e-em'r'a1 portion or theth'ermostaticsprin'g 2 s.

which in turn operates the choke valve II in accordance with engine requirements.

When the engine is started at temperatures cold enough to require choking, the air surrounding the thermostatic spring 26 is substantially the same temperature as is the air temperature surrounding the carburetor, thus the spring will hold the choke valve I I in a substantially closed position. As the engine warms up the air passing through the stove 29 absorbs heat and as this warmer air passes over the thermostat 26 the tension causes the shaft 22 to turn which through the lever 23, rod 25 and lever I'I'causes the choke valve to open. By" the time that a normal operating temperature of the engine is reached the thermostat 26 will open the choke valve II to a wide open position. A stop is provided so that any additional heat transmitted to the thermostat will not move the choke valve beyond the wide open position. During assembly the ther- 'mostatic spring 26 is set in a predetermined pothe stove to the thermostatic spring chamber 32 is limited. Therefore the thermostatic spring chamber must be well insulated to prevent the Attempts have been made to insulate the thermostatic sprir'ig chamber with cork and various other insulating materials. None of these materials have proven satisfactory because as these materials age they warp, crack and crumble' This destroys the insulation value and frequently the broken pieces obstruct thernov'emerit of the various moving parts or clog the passageway from the thermostatic spring chamber to the intake passage 44. As soon as this passage Way is clogged, heated air can no longer be drawn through the thermostatic spring 26 causing the entire choke control unit to beihoperative. This causes excessive fuel consumption and may even render the engine inoperative at higher speeds and high temperatures. This is due to the fact that heated air no longer passes through the thermostatic springconsequently the spring temperature does not get high enough to open the choke valve I I far enough and in. many cases will not open it at all.

My novel device provides an outer chamber 39 for insulating the thermostatic spring chamber 32. Heated air from the stove 29-enters the chamber 32 .from the, insulated tube -3I and passes through the central portion of the thermostatic spring 26 thus transmitting heat toth'e spring 26. The heated air then is deflected." by the bottom of the cup member 33 so that it passes through the outer'portion of the spring 2 6 in the opposite direction, this heating the outer portion of the thermostatic Spring '26. The heated air then passes through the thermostatic spring chamber through the ports 45 and 'flows between the cup member 38 and the thermostat casing'lB to the passageway M. The" space between the cup member '38 and the thermostat casing I8 is the outerchamber 39 which provides an insulation medium for the inner chamber. Thus it willbe seen in m novel method of insulating the thermostatic spring chamber the air that heats the'thermostatic springse'rves a dual purpose. First it transmits heat from the stove 29 to the thermostatic spring 26 and then it serves as a means for insulating the thermostatic spring chamber 32. This method of insulating the thermostatic spring chamber does not deteriorate with age nor does it render the unit inoperable because "of clogged passages.

The outer or insulating chamber 39 provides a very effeetive'insulation for the inner or thermostatic spring chamber 32; There will be substantially no heat loss from the inner chamber because the air leaving the inner chamber-is circulated around the cup member 38 thus maintaining a temperature outside of the cup 36 substantially the same as the temperature inside the cup 38. Any heat loss from the air takes'place in the outer chamber 39. The air serves a dual purposename1y, to transmit heat to the thermostat 26 and to insulate the inner chamber 32.

The thermostat anchor pin 21 is threaded to reduce the surface contact between the spring 26 and the pin. This reduces the heat conduction through the 'pin 21. An insulating bushing 2| is placed between the thermostatically operated shaft 22 and the thermostat casing l8 to diminish the heat loss from the shaft 22 to the'casing. The thermostatically operated shaft 22 is hollow at the end where the thermostatic spring is inserted in a slot. This hole provides less contact between the spring 26 and the shaft 22 thus reducing heat loss through the shaft 22. The open side of the cup member 38 is insulated by means of the insulating gasket 36. The outer periphery of this gasket is clamped between the thermostat casing l8 and the cover 24.

While I have described the details of one form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited, to the particular form shown and described as it will be apparent that many modifications therein can be made without parting from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described by invention what I claim is:

1. In a carburetor, a throttle, a choke valve mounted on a shaft, a bimetallic spring of spiral form located in an inner chamber outside of said carburetor and operatively connected to said shaft to rotate the same, an insulating chamber partially surrounding said inner chamber, a plurality of ports communicating said inner chamber with said insulating chamber, a means for heating a fluid to temperatures dependent upon the operating temperature of the internal combustion engine, a conduit for conveying heated fluid from said heating means to said inner chamber, said heated fluid passing through said spiral spring for operating the same, said heated fluid leaving said inner chamber through said ports and acting as an insulating medium for said inner chambera 'sfsaid heated fluid passes around said inner chamber,-' a conduit "for transmitting the heated gas from said insulating chamber into the intake passageway of said carburetor on the engine side of said throttle. v 2. In a carburetor; a mixture passage, a throttle in said mixture passage," an intake passage communicating with said mixture passage; a choke valve in said intake passage, mounted on a shaft;' a thermostatic spring operatively connected to said shaft to rotate the same, a cup member enclosing'said' thermostatic spring, an outer casing surrounding said cup member and spaced therefrom, said-cup member and said outer casing providing an outer chamber and an inner chamber, said cup being provided with apluralityof openings communicating said inner chamber with said outer chamber, 'a' means for heating a'fiuid to temperatures dependent onthe operating temperature of the internal combustionengine, a conduit for conveying heated fluid from said heating means to said in'ner 'chamber, a second conduit leading from said outer cham' ber to a point in said intake passage onthe engine side'of said throttle, the suction in said intake passage adapted to draw heated fluid from said fluid heating means, through first saidconduit into said inner-chamber for heating said thermostatic spring and thereby operating said choke valve in accordance with the temperature of the engine; said heated fluid flowing from-said inner chamber through said plurality of op'enings'into said outer chamber flowing around said cup member thereby insulating said" inner chamber "from atmospheric conditions, said heated fluid being drawn from said outer chamber through second said conduit into said mixture passage.

3.'In a carburetor for aninternal combustion engine, an induction passage, an air; inlet passage communicating with said induction passage, a throttle valve controlling the induction passage, a choke valve in said air inlet passage mounted on a choke shaft,'a thermostatic spring mounted an a rotatable shaft and operably connectedto the choke shaft to modify 'the position of the choke valve in accordance with the temperature of the engine, a cup member enclosing said thermostatic spring and forming an inner or spring chamber, an outer casing surrounding said cup member and spaced therefrom forming an outer or insulating chamber, a plurality of openings in said cup member providing communication between said spring chamber and said insulating chamber, a means including a conduit interconnecting said insulating chamber and the induction passage on the engine side of the throttle valve, a stove in a heated portion of the engine, a means including an insulated conduit to convey heated gas from said stove to said inner chamber.

4. In an internal combustion engine, an exhaust manifold for said engine; a carburetor; an air passage for admitting air into the interior of said carburetor; a choke valve in said passage; a choke housing including an inner chamber, a thermostatic means located in said inner chamber; said thermostatic means, controlled by the temperature of a fluid heated by said exhaust manifold, for operating said choke valve; said fluid providing an insulation medium for said inner chamber after it leaves said inner chamber.

5. In an internal combustion engine in combination with the combustion chamber, a carburetor; an air passage for admitting air to the thermostat whereby said interior of said carburetor; a choke valve in said passage; an exhaust manifold for-said engine; a-

thermostatic device, located in a chamber, sub- I ject to the influence of change of temperature of the combustion chamber by means of air flowing from a heater located in said exhaust manifold through an insulated conduit into said chamber, said air passing through an insulating chamber after it leaves first said chamber whereby first said chamber is insulated from atmospheric conditions; operative connections between said thermostatic device and said choke valve adapted to increase and decrease the opening of the choke valve upon increase and decrease of the temperature afiecting the thermostatic device. 1

6. In a carburetor for an internal combustion engine; a throttle, a choke valve mounted on a shaft; a thermostatic spring located in a chamber and operatively connected to said shaft to increase or decrease the chokevalve opening upon increase or decrease of the engine temperature, a casing fixed to the outer wall of the carburetor and enclosing said inner chamber thereby providing an insulating chamber; conveying heated gases from a heated portion of the engine to first said chamber where the heated gas flows through said thermostatic spring and imparts heat thereto; a plurality of openings for conveying said heated gas from first said chamber to said insulating chamber; a conduit leading from said insulating chamber to a point on the engine side of said throttle; the flow of the heated gas in said insulating chamber substantially surrounding first said insulation for said thermostatic spring is provided.

7. In a control mechanism for an internal combustion engine carburetor having a choke valve and a throttle; a thermostat for controlling the degree of opening of the choke valve as a function of the temperature; a means for transmitting a fluid of a temperature dependent on exhaust manifold temperature through said thermostat is operated;

a conduit for chamber whereby and a means for utilizing the heat remaining in said fluid, after it passes through said thermostat, for insulating said thermostat.

8. A carburetor having a cold air entrance, a choke valve therein, a mixing chamber and a mixture outlet, a throttle valve therein, a thermostatic means located in an inner chamber for controlling said choke valve, said inner chamber communicating with an outer chamber substantially surrounding said inner chamber, a passage connecting said outer chamber to said mixture passage on the engine side of the throttle valve, another passage connecting said inner chamber to said source of heated air. I

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a carburetor having a choke valve, temperature responsive means for operating said choke valve, a means comprising a flow of air from a heated source of supply for operating said temperature responsive means and said flow of air also providing a means for insulating said temperature responsive means.

10. In a carburetor for an internal combus-- tion engine, a throttle, an air inlet passage, a choke valve in said air inlet passage mounted on a choke shaft journaled in the walls of said inlet passage, a casing fixed to the outer walls of said inlet passage, said casing being divided into an inner chamber and an outer chamber, a temperature responsive means in said inner chamber and operably connected to said choke shaft to modify the position of the choke valve in accordance with the temperature of the engine, a means including a conduit for conveying heated air from a heated source of supply to said inner chamber for operating said temperature responsive means, a plurality of passageways for conveying said heated air from said inner chamber to said outer chamber for providing an insulation means for said inner chamber, a means including a conduit interconnecting said outer chamber to the mixture passage of said carburetor on the engine side of said throttle valve.

BERNARD c. PHILLIPS. 

